Stretched along the border between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rusizi National Park is more than just a scenic retreat. It is an ornithological paradise, providing nesting and stopover grounds for more than 120 breeding and 90 migratory bird species. At first light, the wetlands stir with the quiet elegance of a flock of ibises wading through the shallows, while an African Skimmer cuts low across the water in a flash of precision flight.
Rusizi lies along the eastern branch of the African-Eurasian Flyways, specifically within the West Asia–East Africa Flyway, one of the world’s most important migration corridors for waterbirds. The site plays an important role in maintaining ecological connectivity—serving as a stopover, wintering, and breeding site for many migratory waterbird species, including the African Sacred Ibis (𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴), White-winged Tern (𝘊𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴), Spur-winged Goose (𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴), and Black-Winged Stilt (𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴), all of which are listed under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).
It is also one of five sites in Burundi recognized as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), alongside Ruvubu National Park, Kibira National Park, Bururi Forest Nature Reserve, and Rwihinda Lake Managed Nature Reserve. These designations highlight Burundi’s ecological significance and the need for consistent monitoring of the migratory birds that occur in these important sites throughout year.
Recognizing the importance of conserving nature and important waterbird sites like these, Burundi became a Contracting Party to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) in 2014. AEWA is a legally binding inter-governmental environmental treaty that brings countries together in a shared mission: to conserve migratory waterbird populations and their habitats across the African-Eurasian Flyways.
But turning global agreements into local conservation action requires more than policy. It requires training, education, tools and sustained support. That is where support from Leica Camera AG has helped make a difference in Burundi.
Thanks to the funding that has been provided by Leica as part of the cooperation agreement with AEWA, a number of African countries participation in the annual International Waterbird Census (IWC) have been given a boost.
More specifically in Burundi, the support has helped the Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature (ABN) expand its efforts to monitor waterbird populations more effectively and engage in nature education work more widely in the country. The funds have been crucial in organizing refresher courses for counters, conducting field visits, and providing logistical support to reach remote or previously unmonitored sites. Importantly, they have also enabled ABN to involve new volunteers and raise awareness among local communities and youth about the importance of conserving waterbirds and their habitats.
“We are now able to visit distant areas we could not cover before,” says Arsène Manirambona, Chair and Legal Representative of ABN. “During our visits, we do not just count birds—we engage with local people, we talk about conservation, and we spark interest, especially among the younger generation.”
What starts as a local bird count in the wetlands of Burundi ends up contributing to something much bigger. The data collected informs national species conservation and site management while also supporting conservation planning across the African-Eurasian Flyways, helping to identify priorities at both national and flyway scales.
ABN’s Executive Director Joseph Bizimungu, who has over a decade of experience in biodiversity conservation in Burundi, notes: “The extra support has created a ripple effect. We have seen improvements in conservation behavior at the sites we visit,” he says. “Communities are more aware, more engaged, and prouder of their natural heritage.”
Founded in 2000 and originally focused on birds, ABN has since expanded its mission to encompass the conservation of all aspects of the natural environment. With a vision of a Burundi where people live in harmony with nature, the organization continues to work toward sustainable use of resources and improved livelihoods in the areas of the country in which it operates.
From waterbird counts to community engagement, Leica’s support through the partnership with AEWA, is helping ABN slowly build a culture of nature awareness and conservation in Burundi.